ACC/AHA guideline update: treatment of heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction

Heart failure (HF) affects approximately 5 million persons in the United States each year. HF is predominantly a disease of the elderly: Approximately 80% of patients hospitalized with HF are older than age 65. Approximately one-half of older adult patients with CHF have a decreased ejection fraction. Elderly patients with HF and a reduced LVEF have a higher mortality than elderly patients with HF with a normal LVEF. Despite numerous excellent studies showing the efficacy of appropriate drugs in reducing mortality in patients with HF and a reduced LVEF, these medications are underutilized in the treatment of HF. This article discusses the latest guidelines from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association for the treatment of patients with HF and a reduced LVEF.